Stop motion for looms



Nov. 25, 1952 c. G. MOON 2,619,128

STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed Jan. 11, 1951 s Sheets-Shet 1 i M 48 .5. WWE 4 INVENTOR. CL/FFOPD G. Moo/v Arroeuay NOV. 25, 1952 c, MOON 2,619,128

STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed Jan. 11, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLIFFORD G. MOON 1 ATTORNEY NOV. 25, C. G. MOON I STOP MOTION FOR LOO MS Filed Jan. ll, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 I INVENTbR.

BY CLIFFORD 6. MOON :55- 3:311 f ZZW ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1952 STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Clifford G. Moon, Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Application January 11, 1951, Serial No. 205,538

9 Claims,

This invention pertains to stop motions for looms, and more specifically, to improvements in means for actuating stop motions which function upon failure of filling such as, for example, the so-called center fork type stop motions.

It is a general object of the invention to simplify the actuating means for stop motions of the type described and to eliminate to a great extent much of the mechanism which has heretofore been considered necessary for periodically actuating these devices, once for each pick laid in the fabric.

It is a further object of the invention so to devise such stop motion actuating means that it is located more closely adjacent the mechanism upon which it acts, and to eliminate entirely the cams, cam following levers, links and other mechanism which have heretofore been employed and which have extended down to and have derived their movement from the cam shaft at or adjacent the lower central part of the loom framework.

It is a further object of the invention to devise such stop motion operating means which shall function directly upon the mechanism to be actuated and which shall take the form of a cam, the contour of which may be so devised as to impart any desired movement to the filling engaging fork or equivalent mechanism and which shall also be adjustable in various respects thereby to provide for very accurate timing of the filling motion and also for the extent of travel which shall be imparted to the various elements. 1

It is a further object of the invention to so devise mechanism of the type hereinafter described in detail which shall be effective for imparting the usual movements to the filling fork or equivalent mechanism but which shall be fur-- ther controllable for causing the fork to remain elevated or to dwell in a position such that it may always be assured that the filling is moved out'from beneath the fork tines or other feeler devices during the beat-up movement and while the shuttle will have been moving thereby to maintain proper tension in the filling to prevent the undesirable effect which has sometimes been experienced due to the pressure of the filling feeling .means upon the pick after the shuttle has come. to rest.

Other objects of the invention will be evident from the following more detailed description thereof.

Filling stop motions of the type described have normally, been operated from cams'on. the cam,

2 shaft of the loom, the movement imparted by these cams being conveyed through a lever and linkage from said lever to an actuator pivoted toward one end of the loom lay all as illustrated in U. S. Patent 1,865,930. These filling stop motions, frequently referred'to as center forks," are adapted to be moved throughout their cycle once for each pick of filling inserted and comprise filling feeling means such as the fork tines which are adapted to be lowered or dropped onto the filling if present and which move to a greater extent or drop into a depression or well at the lay in the event filling is not present in the normal fashion. If filling is present the function of the mechanism is such that a projection or bunt-er carried adjacent the end of the lay and forming a part of the fork actuating leverage is not at a position as the lay moves forwardly to make contact with or affect other parts, the purpose of which is to knock off or initiate stopping of the entire loom mechanism thereby to permit correction of the difiiculty which has led to the lack of presence of the filling as normally required. I

In the event that filling is not present beneath the filling fork as the same is lowered to engage or to indicate its presence, the mechanism is sodevised that it is temporarily locked in such position that the hunter does make contact upon forward movement of the lay with the knock-oil mechanism and does thereby effect the stopping of the loom. The basic mechanism and operation thereof are well known to those skilled in the weaving art and is described clearly in the patent just above mentioned and also in U. S. Patent 2,378,240. It should not be necessary to describe the details thereof in this application except by way of briefly referring to the parts as such reference may become necessary for a detailed description ,of what is actually novel herein.

In accordance with the invention hereinafter claimed, the actuation of the filling fork is accomplished through mechanism including a cam adjustably fixed to a bracket or other projection preferably attached to the loomside or to some other part of the loom framework. This cam is of special shape or contour and provides for improved performance of the parts which it controls as compared to the movements imparted by the mechanism heretofore employed, and also functions very directly upon a follower mechanism which is actually pivoted and which moves fork reciprocating or lifting means hereinafter to be described. The contour of the cam may be differently devised depending upon the particular problem at hand and a modification thereof will be described in detail that modification being specifically directed toward improving the actuation or performance of the filling fork so that certain difiiculties heretofore encountered are no longer experienced.

The invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the invention applied to a typical fly-shuttle loom.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from below the novel stop motion actuating means and showing certain of the parts of Fig. l on a slightly greater scale.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing a center fork and the cam by which the center fork is operated.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an adjustment provided for the novel cam.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the cam.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the cam showing sections at the lines indicated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the modified form or" cam, and

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of that modified cam of Fig. 8.

Figs. 10 and 11 are sections taken at lines i0ll, ll-l I, Fig. 9.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2, enough of a typical fly-shuttle loom has been illustrated to show and to supplement the description of the invention. Such a loom comprises a lay beam 20, hand rail 2| and a reed generally indicated at 22, these parts being oscillated or swung to and fro about a rock shaft upon which are pivoted the usual lay swords 23. The lay beam has the usual shuttle boxing mechanism 24 adjacent each end and as the shuttle travels to and fro, it lays filling thread along the lay, more specifically, between warp threads manipulated to form a shed as is well known and above the race plate 25 which is superimposed on beam 20.

The stop motion or stop initiating means functions whenever there is an absence or an improper disposition of the fillin thread upon this race plate and between the shed, and a filling fork having tines 26 pivoted in a bracket 2'! is adapted to be lowered onto the thread if present, or within a well or cut-out depression 28 if filling is not present as it is supposed to be. The filling fork and its immediate operating mechanism thoroughly described in the U. s. patents above mentioned, is also shown here in some detail in Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 4. The tines 26 are normally adapted to be drawn downwardly or urged in a downward direction toward the well 28 by a coil spring 29 which is effective upon a pivot spindle 30 to which the tines are attached and which is bent angularly to provide an arm 3| by means of which the tines may be elevated and otherwise controlled. A spring 32 and a stop wire 33 prevent overriding or tendency of the tines to become elevated to too great an extent, all as described in the Patent 2,378,240 above mentioned.

Immediate control of the fork tines is verned by cam 34 which is adjustably fixed on a rod 35 passing through a bearing 36 at the end adjacent the bracket 21 and, as illustrated in Fig. 1, being guided at its opposite end within a second bearing 3! which is attached to the layby any convenient means, such as a screw or bolt passing through the hub portion 38 from which the bearing projects. This cam 34 more thoroughly described in the patents above mentioned has two lobes 0r projections 39 and 40, and, between these, a depression or notch 4 l.

The cam 34 is moved as necessary by reciprocating rod 35 which is in turn connected to a sec ond rod 42 by means of a clamp 43 and this second rod 42 is pivoted at 44 adjacent the relatively free end of an arm or actuator 45 oscillatable with its pivot 46 fixed to a bracket 4'! attached at the front of the lay beam. This actuator 45 has a forwardly extendin projection 48 which is provided with an end portion adapted to contact some part of the loom knock-off mechanism as is described in the Patent 1,865,930, above mentioned, if the stop motion indicates absence of filling. Otherwise as will hereinafter be explained, this bunter of extension 48 fails to make such contact and the stop motion merely indicates presence of filling. In some instances the rods 35 and 42 are unitary.

The oscillation of the arm or actuator 45 is controlled by the novel means herein disclosed. one element of which is the cam generally indicated by numeral 49 and engaged by a follower 50 carried at the relatively free end of an arm 5| which is in turn fixedly attached to the opposite end of the pivot 46, above mentioned. This arm which is generally indicated by numeral 5| is actually comprised as an extending stud 52 to which the follower is preferably rotatably mounted and a stud holder 53 which is conveniently clamped to the pivot or spindle 46. Movement imparted by the cam is of course limited to motion in one direction only and a spring of any convenient type such as the coil spring 54, provides for returning the parts as permitted by the cam. The follower 50 is preferably an antifriction bearing although it is to be understood that any other type of follower may be used.

The cam 49 is shown in greater detail in Figs. 6 and '7 and comprises angularly disposed surfaces 55 and 56 at the intersection of which is a somewhat rounded nose portion ST. The nose and surface 56 provide for the greatest amount of movement imparted to the follower and elements controlled thereby. The entire cam is mounted on a bracket 58, better illustrated in Fig. 5, and comprises in addition to the parts just above mentioned, a hub 59 and a projecting ear 60 by means of which certain adjustments are effected.

Bracket 58 which may take any convenient form preferably comprises mounting flanges GI and 62 by which it is attached to the loomside or to some other convenient fixed portion of the loom. The connecting bolts or screws, as herein shown, may pass through elongated openings or slots so that there is a certain amount of adjustment provided for moving the entire bracket and cam carried thereby forwardly and rearwardly of the loom. That provides adjustment for effecting the timing of the movement of the parts while other means including the ear 60 held between adjusting screws 63 and 64 provide for swinging the cam about its pivot 65 thereby to regulate the total amount of movement or the angular oscillation which is imparted to the controlling or actuating members and eventually to the cam 34. The screws 83 and 64 pass through upwardly extending bosses 56 and B! which are integrally formed as a part of-the forwardly extending part 68.0f the bracket 5-8. When the cam has been swung to properly adjusted position and the screws 63 and 64 tightened, the assembly is .locked in place by tightening down on the clamping bolt 65.

In Fig. '7 the sections 69 and 1!! taken at correspondingly numbered 1ines on Fig. 6 show the angular disposal of the cam contour and the relative shape and thickness of the part at those places. It is to be understood that for each particular loom, speed of operation, peculiarities of the individual design of the center fork movement itself, and other considerations, the actual cam itself may be varied within reasonable limits. Generally speaking, the shape and form of the parts herein illustrated serve quite satisfactorily, but it will readily be apparent to those skilled inthe art, that various looms, depending upon the purpose to which they are put, may require slight alterations in the contour of the cam, and it should suflice to say here that by changingthe cam 49 it is possible to effect in a very simple manner suitable changes in the operation of the filling fork itself without altering the other parts of the mechanism at all. The cam 34 is of somewhat critical design and alteration of that cam to effect changes in function of the fork is not practical.

Returning to Fig. 2, a further form of adjustment for the cam 49 is illustrated. While the cam is still adapted to be pivoted at 65, it may be more desirable to mount the bracket 58 rather fixedly in position and to effect adjustment of the cam forwardly and rearwardly by means of the pivot bolt 65 which may be loosened and slid along the slot 7!. The length of the projecting ear 60 is sufiicient to permit a reasonable amount of forward and backward movement of the cam without limiting the possibilities of angular adjustment thereof.

Now having described one form of the mechanism in detail, the operation will be reviewed riefiy. The normal tendency of the device is for it to be controlled under the influence of spring 54 to move the rods 42 and to the right, Fig. l, and to permit the fillin fork tines 26 to pass down between the warp threads and into the well 28. As the lay moves rearwardly, the follower 56 must ride up on the cam 49 passing along the surfaces 55 and 55 and receiving its maximum amount of displacement upon reaching the surface 56. The result of this is such that the actuator 55 is moved to the left to pull the cam 34 in that same direction and to elevate the tines 25 so that the shuttle may pass beneath them as it is picked. The cam lobes 39 and 40 act upon arm 3! to move the tines 26 as described.

The shuttle is picked across the lay as the latter is moving rearwardly and the timing of parts issuch that the rearward movement of the lay will swing actuator 55 to the left, Fig, 5, so that the cam 34, Fig. 4, will be moved correspondingly for lifting the fork through the upper warp shed just in time to permit the shuttle to pass. The follower 59 remains on the dwell or straight part 55 of cam 49 for a sufficient interval to let the shuttle pass whereupon the motion of the lay changes to one in a forward direction and the follower 50 upon moving from the high part of the cam drops rather rapidly to move cam 35 to the right again, thereby permitting arm 3! to drop under the influence of sprin 29, the fork prongs 26 likewise moving downwardly at that time. The downward movement may occur at any reasonable period, butassoon as practicable after the shuttle has passed, and is of an extent sulficient to permit the fork to sense the presence or absence of filling and in the first instance, the movement of the parts toward the right will not be deterred since the arm 31 does not enter notch 4!. Therefore the bunter'48 makes no contact with the knock-off mechanism and the loom continues to run as intended. Further movement of the parts to the right results in elevating the arm 3! and the fork slightly as the arm 3| passes over cam 39, thus permitting the filling to be moved out from under the fork tines during beat-up and prior to the time at which the shuttle reaches the extent of its travel so that the filling is laid under proper tension.

Of course, in the event the fillinghas failed and the tines 26 move downwardly into the well 28, the arm 3! would be engaged within notch 4| and the parts stopped in mid position so that contact with the knock-01f devices would be effected and the loom stopped.

Since the motion imparted to the actuating means for the cam 34 acts so directly and its adjustment may be effected with considerable precision, it is possible to govern the action of the filling fork very closely and to raise it and drop it more quickly than would otherwise be the case. After the follower 50 has moved downwardly off the high point of cam 49 to a point where the actuator reaches its extreme extent of travel to the right as determined by stops which are a part of the mechanism of the patents above mentioned, the movement of the cam 34 can proceed no farther and the follower actually leaves the control of the cam 49 not engaging the same again until the lay moves rearwardly and the shuttle is about to be picked again.

Now referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 8-11, a modifica-- tion of the invention involves a compound cam which provides certain additional advantages over and above those incidental to employment of the invention as above described. This cam' 12 is mounted on a bracket 13 which is preferably attached to the breast beam or some other part at the front of the loom but which may be fixed at any convenient part of the loom framework. This cam, as better illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, is provided with a slotted part at its forward end which attaches by means of bolts 14 to the bracket 13. The slots 15 and 16 in the cam are horizontally disposed while the slot 17in the bracket is vertically disposed so that adjustment upwardly and downwardly may be efiected. It is obvious that the arrangement of the slots might be reversed.

This cam is provided with a top contoured part upon which a follower 50' is adapted to travel. The movement imparted to the follower affects the remainder of the mechanism in very much the same manner described with respect to the form of the invention of Fig. 1, etc. The cam instead of being a side camas in the first instance has its active surface more correctly described as a top or generally horizontally disposed surface, although it is obvious thatthe contour is angled somewhat from the horizontal so as to provide for the variation in angular disposal of the follower as it is swung about pivot 46; The highest portion generally designated by numeral i3 is virtually horizontally disposed.

While the cam is inclined upwardly, generally speaking, it is also inclined to the right as shown in Fig. 8, or as considered when viewed from the front of the loom, that being necessary due to theangular movement of the arm 5!. The top or highest part of the cam 18 is that part thereof which is reached by the follower as the actuator 45 and the cam 34 are moved to their fullest extent in the direction of lifting the fork. That occurs as the lay travels rearwardly and as the shuttle is picked across the loom to pass beneath the fork tines. The fork tines, after passage of the shuttle, are lowered as the follower moves downwardly to the firstdepression 19 in the cam and it is at about that point that failure of filling would cause or initiate stopping of the loom. Assuming that filling is present, the fork is maintained in an intermediate position and arm 3| passes onto the cam lobe 39 of cam 34 and is caused to dwell there for an appropriate period of time since the part 80 of the cam 12 is more or less neutrally contoured in that it neither swings the actuator 45 to the left or to the right. This dwell period may be continued to whatever extent seems appropriate under the circumstances. The reason for providing a dwell at this particular point is, as above noted, to make certain that the lobe 39 which raises the tines to permit the filling to be moved out from under them while the shuttle is still moving, may not drop prematurely upon passing of the lobe 39 thereby to kink the yarn and introduce into the woven material a defect which must necessarily detract from its value. The sections of cam 12 at Figs. and 11 show angularity at equivalent points.

Upon further movement of the lay forwardly to beat-up position, the follower 53' moves from the portion 86 of the cam down to a part 8| which is more or less horizontally disposed and which has no effect upon the filling fork mechanism since the same will have reached its fullest extent of travel toward a stop at the right hand limit of movement and at that time the follower may move away from the cam if it is so set. The adjustment forwardly and backwardly and vertically of the loom provides for properly timing the parts and for imparting thereto the correct amount of movement in the direction of lifting the fork tines. Of course, the parts are returned by spring mechanism as in the first instance, and this movement under the influence of the spring is controlled or limited by the cam up to a point where the parts return to their fullest extent of movement in the direction of lowering the fork tines into the well 28.

While one embodiment and a modification of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. The invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom having a lay and a stop motion comprising a fillin fork and fork actuating means including a movable cam and a reciprocable actuator, a connecting link between said cam and actuator and a bunter movable with said actuator and adapted to initiate knocking off of the loom when said fork indicates absence of filling, the improvement in means for periodically reciprocating said actuator which comprises a follower reciprocable with the actuator and a cam directly engaged by said follower and fixedly positioned on a part of said loom closely adjacent said lay.

a 2. In a loom having a lay and a stop motion comprising a filling fork and fork actuating means including a movable cam and an oscillating, pivoted actuator, a connecting link between said cam and actuator and a bunter movable with said actuator and adapted to make contact with a loom knock-off means upon indication of filling absence at said fork, the improvement in means for periodically oscillating said actuator which comprise a follower and means by which its motion is imparted to the actuator, and a cam directly engaged by said follower and means by which said cam is fixedly mounted upon said loom adjacent the lay.

3. In a loom having a lay and a stop motion comprising a filling fork and fork actuating means including a movable cam and an oscillating, pivoted actuator, a connecting link between said cam and actuator and a bunter movable with said actuator and adapted to make contact with a loom knock-off means upon indication of filling absence at said fork, the improvement in means for periodically oscillating said actuator which comprises an arm connected to and pivoted for movement with said actuator, a follower carried by said arm and a cam directly engaged by said follower and having a surface contour such that it moves the follower and actuator through a predetermined angular extent at each beat-up movement of said lay, and means by which said cam is adjustably supported adjacent said lay upon a part of said loom.

4. In a loom having a lay and a stop motion comprising a filling fork and fork actuating means including a movable cam and an oscillating, pivoted actuator, a connecting link between said cam and actuator and a bunter movable with said actuator and adapted to make contact with a loom knock-off means upon indication of filling absence at said fork, the improvement in means for periodically oscillating said actuator which comprises a follower and means by which its motion is imparted to the actuator, and a cam positioned adjacent the lay and having a contour of such form as to move the follower and the fork actuator throughout a predetermined angular extent, and a supporting means for said cam by which it is fixedly attached to said loom and means by which the cam is adjustable to and from said lay and angularly with respect thereto to vary the timing and extent of the fork movement.

5. In a loom having a lay, a frame including loom sides and a stop motion comprising a filling fork and fork actuating means including a movable cam and a pivoting actuator carried by said lay, a link interconnecting said actuator and cam, a bunter formed as an extension from said actuator and being adapted to make contact with a loom knock-off means upon indication of filling absence at said fork, the improvement in means for periodically oscillating said actuator which comprises an arm pivoted for movement with said actuator, a follower carried by said arm and a cam directly engaged by said follower and having a surface contour such that it moves the follower and actuator through a predetermined angular extent at each beat-up movement of the lay, and means for adjustably supporting said cam adjacent said lay and in the path of said follower comprising a bracket attached to one of said loom sides, a threaded connecting means clamping the cam to the bracket and providing for fixing the adjusted position of the cam with respect to the bracket.

6. In a loom having a lay and a stop motion comprising a filling fork and fork actuating means including a movable cam and an oscillating, pivoted actuator, a connecting link between said cam and actuator and a hunter movable with said actuator and adapted to make contact with a loom knock-off means upon indication of filling absence at said fork, the improvement in means for periodically oscillating said actuator which comprises an arm connected to and pivoted for movement with said actuator, a follower carried by said arm and a cam direct-v ly engaged by said follower and having a surface contour such that it moves the follower and incidentally the fork controlling cam throughout an angular extent suificient to raise the fork and then to drop the fork to a level to engage filling, if present, said cam further having its contour so formed as to raise the fork from the filling and a dwell for maintaining it in said raised position until the filling has been moved toward the fabric fell and beyond the possibility of being contacted by the fork.

7. In a loom having a lay and a stop motion comprising a filling fork and fork actuating means including a movable cam and an oscillating, pivoted actuator, a connecting link between said cam and actuator and a hunter movable with said actuator and adapted to make contact with a loom knock-01f means upon indication of filling absence at said fork, the improvement in means for periodically oscillating said actuator which comprises an arm connected to and pivoted for movement with said actuator, a follower carried by said arm and a cam directly engaged by said follower and having its active surface formed to present a raised portion effective to move said actuator, cam and fork so the fork is raised above the filling laid beneath it, a depressed portion for permitting the fork to drop to the level of the filling, if present, and a second raised portion at the opposite side of said depressed portion for raising the fork and for causing it to dwell in raised position until the filling has been moved toward the fell of the fabric and beyond the reach of the said fork.

8. In a loom having a lay and a stop motion comprising a filling fork and fork actuating means including a movable cam and an oscillating, pivoted actuator, a connecting link between said cam and actuator and a hunter movable with said actuator and adapted to make contact with a loom knock-ofi means upon indication of filling absence at said fork, the improvement in means for periodically oscillating said actuator which comprises an arm connected to and pivoted for movement with said actuator, a follower carried by said arm and a cam directly engaged by said follower and having its active surface formed to present a raised portion effective to move said actuator, cam and fork so the fork is raised above the filling laid beneath it, a depressed portion for permitting the fork to drop to the level of the filling, if present, and a second raised portion at the opposite side of said depressed portion for raising the fork and for causing it to dwell in raised position until the filling has been moved toward the fell of the fabric and beyond the reach of the said fork, and a mounting bracket adjacent said lay to which said cam is adjustably attached.

9. In a loom having a lay and a stop motion comprising a filling fork and fork actuating means including a movable cam and an oscillating, pivoted actuator, a connecting link between said cam and actuator and a hunter movable with said actuator and adapted to make contact with a loom knock-off means upon indication of filling absence at said fork, the improvement in means for periodically oscillating said actuator which comprises an arm connected to and pivoted for movement with said actuator, a follower carried by said arm and a cam directly engaged by said follower and having its active surface formed to present a raised portion effective to move said actuator, cam and fork so the fork is raised above the filling laid beneath it, a depressed portion for permitting the fork to drop to the level of the filling, if present, and a second raised portion at the opposite side of said depressed portion for raising the fork and for causing it to dwell in raised position until the filling has been moved toward the fell of the fabric and beyond the reach of the said fork, and a mounting bracket attached to said loom and means by which said cam is attached to said bracket, said means comprising threaded interconnecting means and elongated openings in at least one of the elements providing adjustment vertically and to and from the lay whereby the timing and extent of the fork movement may be varied.

CLIFFORD G. MOON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wyman et al June 28, 1892 Number 

